Platystacus cotylephorus - Eel-tail banjo catfish

Within the large catfish order (Siluriformes), the banjo catfish resides in the Family Aspredinidae comprised of 45 species. These catfish are found in South America and can tolerate higher salinities and brackish water. Some genera in Aspredinidae (Platystacus included) have a unique form of parental care in which they hold their eggs on their abdomens suction-cupped to thread-like structures.